Signaling apparatus.



J. L. CAYER, F. E. MCDONALD & J. W. ESKHOLME.

SIGNALING APPARATUS.

APPLicATIoN FILED SEPT. x7. 1915.

Patented Aug. 14, 1917.

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SIGNALING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. I7. I9I5.

Patented Aug. 14, 1917.

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I UNITED sTATEs PATENT oPPioE,

JOSEPH CAYER, FRANK E. MCDONALD, AND JOHN W. ESKHOLME. OF CHICAGO, ILLI- NOIS, ASSIGNORS, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO CAYER SIGNAL COMPANY, OF

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OIE ILLINOIS.

SIGNALING APPARATUS.

T 0 all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that we, JOSEPH L. CAYER, FRANK E. MoDoNALD, and JOHN W. Esn- HoLME, citizens of the United vStates of America, and residents of Chicago, county of Cook, and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Signaling Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

The main objects of this invention are to provide an improved form of signal apparatus for use on vehicles particularly automobiles, and arranged so as to indicate the proposed changes in the course of the vehicle to pedestrians and drivers of other vehicles, both at the front and rear; to provide an improved combination of visual and audible signals; to provide an improved construction of the visual signals; to provide improved controlling mechanism for operating the signals; to provide improved means for attaching the controlling mechanism to j the steering mechanism of the vehicle; to

I plugs used in makin provide improved means for automatically returning said controlling mechanism to its neutral position. after each operation of the signals; and to provide improved means for indicating to theoperator a defective condition of the connections between the signal apparatus and the controlling mechanism.

An illustrative embodiment of this invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of the signal apparatus illustrating the arrangement of the indicators, the controlling mechansm and electrical circuits.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the controlling mechanism and the mounting by means of which it is attached to the steermechanism. l ig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary detail of one of the indicators. y

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional detail of the same.

Fig. 5 is a sectional detail of one of the connections of. the conductors to the various parts of the apparatus.

In the construction shown in the drawings, the apparatus comprises visual indicators 1 and 2, an audible signal 3 and controlling mechanism 4 for operating said indicators Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 14, 1917.

Application led September 17, 1915. Serial No. 51,176.

and signal. The indicators 1 and 2 are in the form of hollow prisms having transparent signs formed on one of the faces thereof, which are adapted to be illuminated by means of electric lights arranged within the prisms. These indicators are arranged to be mounted or built-in on the front The central sign 12 indicates a change in the.

course of the vehicle, which in the drawings is represented by the word Turning. The signs 13 and 14 which register with the two end compartments are made to indicate the direction of the change, and

vin the construction shown in the drawings are in the form of arrows pointing in opposite directions.

In order to render the signs obscure in daylight when not illuminated, a sheet 15 (Figs. 3 and 4) of colored translucent material is arranged to cover the plate 11.

vFrosted Celluloid has been found most suitable for this purpose, and red is preferred, for the reason that when illuminated, it is more noticeable than any of the other colors.

The covers 7 and 8 are provided with transverse ianges 7.1 and 8.1 respectively,

which extend around the perimeters thereof -so as to embrace the edges of the box 6. v

Springs 16 are secured to the covers 7and 8 so as to engage the beads 17, as indicated in Fig. 4, and yieldingly retain said covers in place. This arrangement makes it possible to quickly remove either of the covers when access to the lamps within is desired. y

The illuminating means is in the form of incandescent lamps 18, 19 and-20 arranged in the respective compartments, being supported on a bridge 21 (Fig. 3) suitably secured to one of the walls of the box 6.

Conductors lead from the lamps 18, 19 and 20 to plugs 22 and 23 secured to the box 6 from whence other conductors lead to the controlling mechanisml4.

The controlling mechanism 4 comprises a switch arm or lever 24, pivoted at 25' to a plate 26, and contacts 27 and 28, and 29 and 30, arranged in pairs on the under side of.

Fig. 1.

Plugs 37, 38, 39, and 41 are rigidly secured to the under side of the plate 31 and are connected by suitable conductors with various parts of the apparatus as will hereinafter be explained. These plugs, as well as the plugs 22 and 23, may be of any suitable construction comprising two parts arranged to be separated or attached for breaking or making the circuits. A convenient form of plug for this purpose is illustrated in Fig.` 5. The part 42 has contacts 43 and 44 to which the wires are attached, said contacts being arranged to engage spring contacts 45 and 46 carried on the part 47. The parts 42 and 47 are held together'by pins 48 secured to one of the parts and arranged to be received in suitable bayonet slots formed in the other part.

The arrangement of circuits for the speciic construction illustrated in the drawings is as follows The wires 49 and 50 connect the battery 51 to one part of the plug 37, from the other part of which wires 53 and 54 lead respectively to the switch arm 24 and one of the contacts of each ofthe plugs 38 and 39. A wire 55leads fromV the contacts 27 and 29 and by means of branches 56 and 57 connects with the plugs 38 and 39. A wire 58 .connects the contact 28 with the magnets 59 and 60 from which wires 61 and 62 lead respectively to the plugs 40 and 41. A wire 63 connects the contact 30 with the magnets 64 and 65 from which wires 66 and 67 lead respectively to the plugs 40 and 41. Wires 68 and 69 connect the plug 38 with the plug 22 on the indicator 2, and wires 70 and 71 connect the plug 39 with the plug 22 on the indicator 1. Wires 72 and 73 connect the plug 40 with the plug 23 on the indicator 2, and wires 74 and 75 connect the plug 41 with the plug 23 on the indicator 1.

Within the indicators 1 and 2 wires 76 lead from the plugs 22 to thelamps 19, and wires 77 and 78 connect with the lamps 18 and 20 respectively. Also wires 79 and 80 lead from the plugs 23 to the lamps 18 and 20 respectively.

Magnets 59, 60, 64 and 65- are interposed in the main circuits-connecting the controlling mechanism 4 with the lamps in the indicators, for the purpose of controlling a signal 86 arranged to inform the operator of a break or other defect in the various circuits. For this reason the armature 81 of the magnets` 59S'and 60 serves as a switch' element, and is normally urged by means of a suitable spring to engage and complete the circuit across contacts 82 and 83 which have wires 84 and 85 leading respectively to the wire 58 and the signal 86, which in the specific embodiment herein shown,A is in the form of a pilot lamp. The armature 87 similarly bridges the contacts 88 and 89 from which wires 90 and 91 lead respectively to the wire 63 and the lamp 86. A wire 92 leads from the lamp 86to the wire 54 which, through the medium of the plug 37 and wire 50, connect it with the battery 51. The lamp 86 is herein shown to be mounted on the plate 26 above the Yswitch arm 24 for the reason that it is then in constant view of the operator. However, other convenient locations for such a lamp might be arranged.

1n order to provide for the automatic return of the switch arm 24 to its neutral position after each operation, and thereby obviate the necessity of the operators attention to extinguishing the lamps, a cam 93 is secured to the switch arm 24 coaxially with its pivot 25. A pin or shoulder 94 formed on a clamping band 95 is secured to one of the spokes 96 of the steering wheel so as to engage the cam 93 when the steering mechanism 5 is returned to its normal position after having guided the vehicle around the turn. The position of the pin depends upon the relative position of the switch arm 24. However it is intended that when the hand wheel is in the position which it normally occupies for straight-ahead driving the pin 9 4 will be adjacent to the middle of said cam.

The audible signal 3, as herein shown, is in the form of an electric bell 97, which is connected by wires 98 and 99 to the wires 68 and 69 respectively. This signal is intended to be mounted on the rear of the vehicle with a view of attracting the attention of the drivers of vehicles following, for the purpose of insuring that they observe the visual signal indicating a change in the course of the vehicle and the direction thereof. This would serve particularly to attract the attention of drivers if, momentarily, they should happen to be observing other things than the course of their vehicle.

1n order to further facilitate the operators knowledge of whether or not the lights in the signals are working properly, the backs 8 of the signal boxes 6 may have apand 28.

continues through the wires 55, 56 and 57,

ertures formed therein, if the signals are mounted on the vehicle so that the backs are within the view of the operator. Such an arrangement is illustrated in the signal 1 shown in Fig. 1, wherein a circular aperture 100 and arrows 101 and 102 are formed in the back 8, -positioned to register with the three compartments. Through these apertures the operator may observe whether or not the illumination is correct.

The operation of the device is -as follows :-P

Upon approaching a corner where the driver of the vehicle desires to make a turn, lie would shift the switch arm 24 into one or the other of its positions, depending uponv the direction in which the turn is to be made. Assuming that a turn is to be' made to the right, the switch arm 24 would'be shifted into the position shown in Fig. 1. The circuit would thereupon be completed to the lamps 18 and 19 in both the indicators 1 and 2 so that the word Turning, together with an arrow pointing to the right, would be observed by pedestrians or the drivers ofother vehicles both in the front and the rear of the vehicle upon which the signal apparatus is mounted.

This circuit may be traced as follows:

From the battery 51 through wire 49, plug 37, wire 53, switch arm 24, to contacts 27 From the contact 27 the circuit plugs 38 and 39, wires 68 and 71 to the plugs 22 on both of the indicators, and

Athence through wires 76, lamps 19, wires 78, plugs 22, wires 69 and 70, plugs 38 and 39, wire 54, plug 37, wire 50 and battery 51.

From the contact 28 the circuit is through the wire 58, magnets 59 and 60, wires 61 and 62, plugs 40 and 41, wires 72 and 75 to `the plugs 23 on both of the indicators, and

thence through wires 80, lamps 18, wires 77, plugs 23, wires 69 and 70, plugs 38 and 39, wire 54, plug 37, wire 50 to the battery 51. At the same time, the circuit is completed through the wires 98 and 99 to the electric beu 9i.

If these latter circuits and lamps are complete, the passing of the current through the magnets 59 and 60 energizes them, which -causesa retraction of the armature 81 so as to' break the circuit that might otherwise befcompleted to the pilot lamp 86. If, however, thelamps 18 or any of the wires which .complete the circuit thereto should be deective to the extent of preventing completion of the circuit from the contact 28 back to the battery 51, as just traced, the magnets 59 and 60 would not be energized, whereupon the armature 81 would remain in engagement with the contacts 82 and 83 and the circuit would be completed to the pilot lamp 86. This circuit may be traced as follows: from the battery 51, wire 49, plug 37, wire 53, switch arm 24, con- The illumination of the lamp 86 indicates to the operator that the circuit for the lamps 18 is defective and thereby allows him an opportunity to immediately remedy the same without the liability of danger or embarrassment that might otherwise occur in operating the apparatus with defective circuits.

Upon the completion of these circuits, the signs 12 (Turning) and 14 (arrows pointing right) are illuminated and attention is attracted thereto by the audible signal 3, whereupon pedestrians and drivers of other vehicles may govern themselves accordingly.

The operator manipulates the steering mechanism 5 when turning the car in the desired direction and as soon as the turn is completed and the steeringl mechanism 5 resumes its normal position, the pin 9 5. moves into engagement with the cam 93 (as` will be observed from Fig. 1) and causes the switch arm 24 to be shifted out of engagement with the contacts 27 and 28.

When the'turn is to be made in the opposite direction, (left)` the switch arm 24 is shifted to engage the contacts 29 and 30, whereupon the lamps 19 and 20 in both indicators are illuminated. The circuits are traceable in the same manner as those previously explained.

Although but one specific embodiment of this invention has been herein shown and described, it will be understood that numerous details of the construction shown may be altered or omitted without departing from the spirit of this invention as defined by the following claims.

We claim:

1. Signal apparatus for vehicles, compris-- ing an indicator having a plurality of signs, one indicating change in thecourse of the vehicle and others indicating the direction of such change, electrical illuminating means for said signs, a shiftable switch arm, two sets of contacts arranged to be engaged by said switch arm, circuits connecting said contacts with sai-d electrical illuminating means and arranged so that the engagement of said switch arm with one or the other of said sets of contacts causes the simultaneous illumination of said one sign and one or another of said other signs, a magnet connected in said circuits, a pair of contacts arranged Vadjacent to the armature of said magnet and normally bridged thereby, a signal, and an auxiliary circuit connecting said contacts with said signal and controlled by said switch arm.

2. Signal apparatus for vehicles, comprising an 'indicator having a plurality of signs, one indicating change in the course of the vehicle and others indicating the direction of such change, electrical illuminating means for said signs, a shiftable switch arm, two sets of contacts arranged t0 be engaged by said switch arm, circuits connecting said contacts with said electrical illuminating means and arranged so that the engagement of said switch arm with one or the other of said sets of contacts causes the simultaneous illumination lof said one sign and one or another of said other signs, magnets interposed in said circuits, contacts arranged adjacent to each of said magnets and coacting with the armatures thereot1 to form switches, a signal, and auxiliary circuits connecting said switches with the respective setslofsaid contacts.

3. Sig-'nal apparatus for vehicles, compris ing an indicator having a plurality of signs, one indicating change in the course of the vehicle and others indicating the direction of such change, means for illuminating said signs, a switch mounted adjacent t0 the steering mechanism of the vehicle, a cam on said switch, and a shoulder on the hand wheel of said steering mechanism normally adapted to' actuate said cam for shifting said switch into a neutral position.

4. Signal apparatus for vehicles, comprising an indicator having a plurality of signs, one indicating change in the course of the vehicle and others indicating the direction of such change, means for illuminating said signs, a switch mounted adjacent to the steering mechanism of the vehicle, a cam rigidly secured to said switch coaxially with the pivot thereof, and a shoulder on the hand wheel of said steering mechanism normally adapted to actuate said cam for shifting said switch into a neutral position.

Signed at Chicago this 14th day of Septemher 1915.

JOSEPH L. CAYER. FRANK E. MCDONALD. JOHN W. ESKHOLME. 

